The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-09-17

be dead. But we were not in frame
of mind to let sentiment interfere with
business.
Il suppose we had been there for
couple of weeks when provisions be-
gan to run short. We didn't want to
both leave the claim at once, so it was
finally arranged that Charley go down
the creek to camp about fifty miles
away and bring a supply. He took
both burros and started off. caicu-
lated it would take him aweek to make
the trip, and time hung heavy on my
hands. | tried to work little on the
shaft. The formation was very hard,
and we had rugged up sort of cross
bar ladder. ] would go down this, fill
the bucket, climb to the surface and
pull it up.
Eat about noon of the second day
after he left l was startled at what /
thought was man crossing little
gulch half mile away. | only had
view of it between two rocks, and what
ever it was passed so quickly that
was not sure. However, l waited for
a couple of hours, and then, seeing
nothing further, concluded was mis-
taken, and went down into the shaft.
filled the bucket with very heavy ore,
climbed up, and had it about half
raised, when man came walking up
the creek bed toward me. Then knew
that l was right before.
He was an ugly-looking customer,
big and brawny, with a flat, Scandina-
Wan face, and carried a Winchester on
his arm. l had a little stick that |
slipped into the windlass handle near
the axle, to keep it from turning back
ward, and, leaving the bucket just
where it was, suspended half way up,
l started toward the cabin to get my
arms. He covered me with his repeat
ing rifle and ordered me to halt.
What are you doing on my CLAMP
he said.
- reckon you can see, replied,
putting as good face on it as l posi-
bly, could.
"'You mean you jumped it, you
cursed theft
"'No, I don't. There wasn't enough
work on it to hold it, and it was as
much mine as anybody's.'
"'You lie!'
He looked at me over the sights
with his wicked greenish eyes for full
a minute. Then he said:
"'Did you ever pray?'
"'Yes,' faltered.
"'Then pray now. I'll give you two
minutes to do it
"By that time my mind was clear
enough to take in the whole situation,
and had no doubt but he intended to
murder me then and there. With me
out of the way there would be no one
to testify to the insufficient work, and
l would simply be regarded-if the
story of my death was ever tobias
claim-jumper who had been justly dealt
with. l felt my knees begin to trem-
BILE. and tried another rock.
eff you kill me, L said, my partner
will be back and sec that you hang for
it.
"Tll fix your partner the same
way. you claim-jumping cur
True enough. Nothing could be
easier than to assassinate Burke on his
return, and we had so jealousy guarded
the secret of our trip that no one would
know where to search for us. We
would simply disappear, as hundreds
of prospectors do, never to be seen by
men again, and speedily to be forgot
ten. l had no hope of mercy from the
instant | looked into that mans cruel
face. | felt, with q sickening qualm
and wild drumming in my ears, that
my time had come.
'''Oh! for Heavens sake, don't muir
der mel l cried. 4 will go
"The man made no reply. For mo-
ment my head swan, and then, with a
sudden return of vision that was excru-
ciating in its clearness. saw him stoop
slightly, rest the gun-barrel over the
windlass-handle, and marked even that
slight contraction of the eyelid that
always just precedes shot. The next
instant there was a crash, an explosion
and q cry, all mingled into one. saw
the man turning head over heels down
the embankment, the Winchester flying
through the air, and all the while heard
loud, monotonous whirring noise that
was like some gigantic clock running
down.
81 did not realize it at the time, but
this is what had happened: When he
rested his gun across the windlass he
dropped the barrel right against the
little stick had thrust in to prevent it
turning, and knocked it out. l sup
pose the bucket of ore weighed $50
pounds, and the great iron handle,
swinging clear around. gained such
terrific momentum that when it struck
him full in the face, which it did, it
lifted him off his feet like cannon
ball. The gun was discharged by the
shock, but the bullet went nowhere
near me. Before regained my senses
heard the bucket strike the bottom
with a smash
"When | picked up the man he was
unconscious, but moaning u little, and
blood was tricklinr out of his ears.